A TikTok-famous takeaway at war with neighbours over claims of late-night anti-social behaviour has said ‘it’s not our duty’ to make customers behave.
A bitter feud broke out between neighbours and Lebanese Grill Express when disruption, including fights and loud music being played until the early hours, began soon after it opened in Camden, north London.
Locals have claimed the kebab shop is making their lives a ‘misery’, with one describing it as a ‘hub for delinquents’ and another comparing the area to the ‘Wild West’.
They have accused the restaurant of playing music until 1am ‘every day of the week’ and claimed deliveries to the takeaway begin as early as 5:30am before the chimney begins smoking a few hours later.
After opening in 2021, a meeting was held between the restaurant’s owners, local residents, police and the local council to find ways to reduce the disruption.
At another meeting two years later, it was claimed that the kebab shop’s owner accused the police and council of incompetence and residents of racism.
And last November the kebab shop’s late-night licence was reviewed on the basis of pollution, which later led to it being revoked.
Ward councillors said Lebanese Grill had been a source of ‘significant public nuisance, disorder and environmental degradation’.
A police van is pictured as dozens of diners gather outside Lebanese Grill Express on Leather Lane in Camden, central London
Pictured: The remnants of takeaway meals bought by punters at Lebanese Grill littered on the ground nearby
These was said to have included ‘aggressive behaviour, loud and abusive language, spitting, public fighting, and intimidation by groups of individuals, many of whom travel from outside the borough’.
And Melanie Tew, chair of the Bourne Estate Tenants and Residents Association, said in December ‘the community has been destroyed’ by the disruption.
But the decision was appealed, meaning Lebanese Grill can still operate until 1am until their appeal is heard.
Now, however, the takeaway – which was recently given a zero-star rating for food hygiene – has said ‘it’s not our duty’ to police anti-social behaviour once customers leave the shop.
Lebanese Grill’s manager Zack Khan has denied it was ‘responsible’ for customers’ litter or for playing loud music into the early hours of the morning.
He told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s not true there is loud music. We go out as a business to keep the peace and respect our neighbours.
‘We tell customers to “turn your music off” and “if you won’t, we won’t serve you”. We’re doing our best to keep the place tidy.
‘It’s not our duty to collect litter but we do it as a good will gesture to not upset neighbours. Whatever we do is not good enough.
Neighbours have said that anti-social behaviour pouring out of the kebab shop late at night has caused them ‘misery’
Multiple bags and boxes from the kebab shop are littered on the ground next to a nearby bin and children’s play area
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We live next to TikTok famous takeaway – diners make our lives a misery with anti-social behaviour
‘To be honest, people do throw litter but we go out two, three times a night and pick it up. It doesn’t all come from Lebanese Grill but a lot of complaints are directed our way.’
Mr Khan has blamed Camden Council, saying it has not provided enough bins for the area.
He said: ‘We’ve asked the council to provide more bins but they said they have no funds to do it. If the council provided bins, people would bin their litter properly.’
He also doubled down on calling neighbours ‘racist’, saying they ‘see harmless black kids’ who are ‘not causing problems’ but assume they’re being anti-social.
Mr Khan told the Mail: ‘We live in a multicultural country and we had people saying in December that they’re not able to walk down the street [because they don’t feel safe].
‘But we feel we’re being targeted for being a Lebanese grill. We feel we’re being victimised by these locals.’
One resident previously said: ‘At around six o’clock is when the fun starts – fights, vehicles playing loud music, urinating, eating on top of cars.
‘Residents can’t even send their children to Sainsbury’s. It isn’t safe for our kids anymore. It’s like the Wild West.’
The Food Standards Agency have rated the kebab shop’s food hygiene as ‘zero’ out of five stars following an inspection in February
The FSA deemed ‘major improvements’ were ‘necessary’ in hygienic food handling, cleanliness, and management of food safety
Mr Khan said he has tried to extend the olive branch to residents, but suggested they would not engage in peace talks.
He told the Mail: ‘We said to our neighbours, “Let’s talk and resolve the situation”, but they’re not up for that.’
In February, Lebanese Grill received a zero-star hygiene rating after inspectors ruled ‘major improvements’ were ‘necessary’ in food handling, cleanliness and management of food safety at the establishment.
The kebab shop previously held a four-star rating, said Mr Khan, however it ‘automatically lost three points’ as food hygiene documents were ‘not accessible’ on the day of inspection.
He said: ‘We run a very good kitchen. We didn’t have a food management system on site when the inspection came.
‘We weren’t able to produce that, it wasn’t accessible at the time of inspection because it was locked in a different room and the manager didn’t have the key.
‘You automatically lose three points for [not having] that and that was one of the main factors [for being handed zero stars for hygiene].’
Mr Khan added: ‘We would have been closed down if it was that bad. Locals have targeted us at every angle to get us shut down and unfortunately we have the zero-star rating but the re-inspection we have asked for will bring us back to where we were.’
One resident previously claimed Lebanese Grill customers ‘gain access to our estate and eat inside the blocks’ when it’s cold or raining. Pictured: Takeaway bags and boxes scattered in one of Bourne Estate’s housing blocks
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police previously said: ‘Officers are aware of ongoing reports of anti-social behaviour in and around the Lebanese Grill Express on Leather Lane, Farringdon.
‘Since these issues have come to light, police have increased patrols at the location to address the anti-social behaviour and reassure the local community.
‘In December, the business underwent a licensing review, during which the Met made representations to the panel in support of the revocation of the premises’ late-night licence.
‘Camden Council subsequently made the decision to revoke the business’s licence.
‘We understand this decision has since been appealed and as a result, the establishment is still operating.
‘We continue to work closely with partners to explore all options to address concerns at the venue.’
A Camden Council spokesperson previously said: ‘We removed the late-night licence for Lebanese Grill Express in November due to ongoing noise and disturbance issues.
‘This decision has been appealed, meaning the venue can continue to trade until the appeal has been determined by the court.
‘Our community safety team will continue to tackle anti-social behaviour and offer reassurance to residents, ahead of the appeal hearing which is scheduled for August.’
The Daily Mail has approached the Met Police and Camden Council for further comment.
